Coordinated UK-French Airstrike Strikes Daesh Arms Cache in the Syrian region

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.

The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.

"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.

There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.

The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.

The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.

"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.

UK warplanes have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."

During December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against IS targets in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.

The UN says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.